Two Texas police officers rescued two young boys from a burning home just moments before the flames completely consumed their bedroom, according to body camera footage from the incident. The dramatic rescue occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, when Vidor Police officers Michael Stephenson and Ashton Moss responded to a call around 2 a.m.
Upon arriving, the officers found the home already engulfed in flames. The children’s mother frantically informed Stephenson that her two sons, ages seven and nine, were trapped in their bedroom, and their only possible escape route, a window, was blocked by an air conditioning unit.
“Anytime that you hear there’s going to be a child involved, that’s like your nightmare,” Stephenson later told WKRC.
The scene was chaotic as Moss arrived, with flames leaping from the house. Stephenson immediately worked to dislodge the air conditioning unit from the window, which was the boys’ only means of escape. After considerable effort, he successfully pushed the unit through the window, allowing the boys a path to safety.
“I just saw a big ball of fire, so I just tried to run over to the house,” Moss said. “I really couldn’t see because the flames were so big.”
Take a look at the remarkable footage here.
Once the window was cleared, Stephenson helped the first boy out, passing him to Moss, before quickly pulling the second boy to safety. Both children were safely evacuated from the burning home. The officers then checked the house to ensure no one else remained inside.
Stephenson later comforted one of the boys who had bumped his head during the escape. “Thank you for saving me,” the boy said in response, showing his gratitude despite his minor injury.
Police Chief Rod Carroll revealed that the boys’ bedroom was fully consumed by flames less than a minute after they were rescued. “We were 40 seconds away from not getting those children out of the house,” he said. “Today, we’re cherishing and celebrating.”Top of Form
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